Caltrops - Reviews - Re: Gradius V, that is.

Forum Overview :: Reviews

by Worm 11/29/2004, 9:20pm PST

If it weren't for R-type Final and the new T.V. that can display Gradius III from my Gradius III/IV disc. I'd be all Gradius V more like G-RAD-ius V, then I'd subject you to a boring rehash of my R-type Final review attempt. It's the same as Gradius IV with a few exceptions.

- The bosses are more annoying.
     They all use the same basic design but some get much harder if you don't speed through them. Granted I'm not quite good enough to get very far. The first boss is a fine example, if you keep cool and kill him fast he's a cinch but after a certain point all hell breaks loose and he takes much longer to defeat.

- Cutscenes
      Oh Yes! I have only seen one, because I suck at video games, but I really doubt there being just one. They are unskippable and not short bits of text like in R-Type Final. On your fourtieth attempt on a level, it's bound to get annoying.

- New Options!
      All are pretty interesting but there is only the forward beam laser, which gives you little to look at. Most are small twists on old option set ups and none really innovate. The only missiles are 'Missile, Hawkwind, Double, and Reverse Missile' I can't remember which goes to which, but it really doesn't matter. The rolling option is basically just a normal follow option that will roll around you when you hold down the Option Activation Button. The directional option let's you steer the lasers around well holding down the activation button and the options will tail you in whatever direction you last set. Both these options let your laser warp a little as you move instead of keeping ramrod. This is neat when you shange the direction on the direction option, because it gives a feel of sweeping the stage, and looks really nice. When you use the rolling option it becomes disorienting because it is so much more on the screen. Also you have a follow option that you are allowed to freeze in any position, this is simply the best option. The other one is a spaced out option that you can space out farther, and pull in with your activation key, this is the second best. The game features no custom options.

Verdict? Pick up Gradius III/IV it features the arcade version of Gradius III with as little slow down as you're going to get on a system. It also seems to use the nice SNES sprites which is nice.